The French nouns église, temple, and cathédrale all refer to places of worship but differ in religious affiliation, purpose, and sometimes size or architectural features. Here's how to distinguish between them:
Église
Église means church and refers to a building where Christians, especially Catholics and sometimes Protestants, gather for worship.
- Used for general Christian churches (mostly Catholic in France).
- Can be small or large, village or city.
- Regular site for Mass, weddings, baptisms, and other sacraments.
- Architecturally varied: from simple rural buildings to ornate urban ones.
- Examples: l’église Saint-Sulpice, l’église du village.
Temple
Temple means temple but in French it specifically refers to Protestant places of worship.
- Used primarily for Protestant churches (e.g., Calvinists, Lutherans) in France.
- Protestant worship spaces are called temples, not églises, to distinguish from Catholic usage.
- Usually simpler in design than Catholic churches.
- Not used for non-Christian religions in French (e.g., a Buddhist temple is also called temple, but context differs).
- Examples: le temple protestant de Strasbourg, le temple de l'Oratoire.
Cathédrale
Cathédrale means cathedral and denotes the principal church of a diocese, where a bishop has his seat (called a cathedra).
- Always Christian and almost always Catholic in France.
- Larger and more architecturally grandiose than a typical église.
- Serves as the central church for a region’s bishop.
- Often a historic and tourist landmark (e.g., Notre-Dame de Paris).
- Not a separate type of worship, but a rank/status of church building.
- Examples: la cathédrale Notre-Dame, la cathédrale de Chartres.
Summary
| Word | Meaning | Religious Affiliation | Use | Size/Status | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Église | Church | Catholic, some Protestants | General Christian place of worship | Variable, from small to large | l’église Saint-Pierre |
| Temple | Temple (Protestant church) | Protestant | Protestant place of worship | Usually smaller, simpler | le temple de Montauban |
| Cathédrale | Cathedral | Catholic | Bishop’s main church; diocesan center | Large, important, often historic | la cathédrale de Reims |
Important Notes
- In plural, église becomes églises, temple becomes temples, and cathédrale becomes cathédrales.
- Do not confuse temple with temple in English, which can refer to various religious buildings worldwide; in French, it is specifically Protestant or used in non-Christian (e.g., Asian) contexts.
- Other Christian denominations may have different terms (e.g., chapelle for chapel).
- Usage reflects French religious history, where Catholicism predominated and Protestantism was a minority tradition.
Example sentences
- Nous allons à l’église tous les dimanches. (We go to church every Sunday.)
- Le temple protestant organise un concert ce soir. (The Protestant temple is hosting a concert tonight.)
- La cathédrale est ouverte aux visiteurs. (The cathedral is open to visitors.)
In short, use église for general churches (mostly Catholic), temple for Protestant churches, and cathédrale for a bishop’s main church.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
